Lack of offensive punch doomed Sharks to briny deep

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, May 5, 1999

NO ONE expected the Sharks to beat the Colorado Avalanche in their first-round playoff series. Then again, no one expected them to lose all three games at the San Jose Arena, either.

That's where the players were early Wednesday, cleaning out lockers and meeting for one last time with team management before departing for the summer.Don't be surprised if they couldn't wait to find the exit.

Twice in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series the Sharks scored a go-ahead goal in the third period at home - Games 2 and 6. In both cases, San Jose allowed a tying goal before the end of regulation, and surrendered game-winners in overtime, each scored by Colorado rookie winger Milan Hejduk.

That scenario happened only once in 40 regular-season games at the San Jose Arena. At 19:00 of the third period on April 12, the Sharks took a 4-3 lead over Edmonton, which trailed after two periods, 2-1. The Oilers tied it at 19:42, and clinched a playoff berth with a game-winner at 3:55.

It's too simple to suggest the Sharks would have beaten the Avalanche if they'd won just two games at home. But San Jose should have at least forced a seventh game.

The reason they fell short - and it's been a recurring theme for two years - is a lack of offensive punch. General manager Dean Lombardi will address the situation in the offseason, and the return to health by No. 1 defenseman Gary Suter should help.

Even granted that Colorado is an elite opponent, the Sharks' home-ice struggles are baffling. Besides not winning, they had just four goals total in nine periods and 21:05 of overtime at home. Conversely, they scored 13 goals in three regulation games at McNichols Arena.

The day before San Jose was eliminated, coach Darryl Sutter mentioned he was concerned his players don't always seems to display the needed desperation when they play at home. That they seem to reach a false comfort level. And let distractions get in the way.

Considering the playoff outcome, personnel isn't the only facet of the team that needs work this summer. Mental preparation at home must be addressed as well.

Memorial for Chiasson&lt;

Former Shark Ray Sheppard was one of several players who spoke Tuesday during an hour-long memorial in Raleigh, N.C., for Carolina defenseman Steve Chiasson, who died early Monday when his pickup went out of control and rolled.

Sheppard, who roomed with Chiasson on the road, talked about his friend's honesty and integrity.

"I'll take that with me for as long as I live," said Sheppard, who was joined by all of his Hurricanes teammates along with commissioner Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell from NHL offices. "He'll be in our prayers forever. We should all be grateful for him."

Chiasson was traveling about 74 mph in a 55-mph zone. Not wearing a seat belt, the 32-year-old veteran of 13 NHL seasons was thrown from the vehicle. Chiasson's funeral will be Saturday in his native Peterborough, Ontario.

Speech isn't always free&lt;

The league fined Flyers chairman Ed Snider $50,000 and coach Roger Neilson $25,000 Tuesday for their criticism of the officiating in Game 6, which resulted in Toronto eliminating Philadelphia, 1-0, on a last-minute power-play goal.

"When the official decides a game, it's a disgrace," said Snider, who added he didn't care if got fined. "The truth is there. Everybody in the stands knows it. Everybody in the city knows it. It's a disgrace to the game. If (Terry) Gregson can sleep tonight, God bless him."

It was Gregson who whistled John LeClair for an elbow minor late in the third period that led to the Maple Leafs' power-play goal.

Around the league&lt;

The Rangers had scouts at every game of the Colorado-San Jose series, including head coach John Muckler, who attended two of the three games in Denver. Rumor has it New York's No. 1 target in the offseason is a center who is an expert at playing both ways. Sounds a lot like free-agent-to-be Vincent Damphousse fits the bill. . . . Nicklas Lidstrom has talked a lot about returning to his native Sweden and not returning after the playoffs. He might be serious. The 29-year-old Detroit defenseman turned down a two-year contract that would have paid him $5 million next season and $6.5 million in 2000-01. Lidstrom wants to have his children educated in Sweden.

The Flyers certainly missed Eric Lindros (collapsed lung) against Toronto. Philadelphia scored 11 goals in their six-game loss to the Maple Leafs. In four regular-season meetings, the Flyers collected 13 goals, 10 of them when Lindros was on the ice. . . . Dallas offensive standout Brett Hull, who failed to score a goal in the Stars' sweep of Edmonton, was the target of recent needling. Anonymous teammates left the following message in his locker cubicle Monday: "For soft hands to score goals: 1) liberally apply baby oil to hands; 2) rub in thoroughly; 3) place baby powder on knob of stick; and 4) shoot between the pipes for best results." &lt;